Double-seaming machine.



5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

C. W. SLEEPER.

DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 11, 1902. RENBWED MAR. 4. 1904.

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QITNEEEEE PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

C. W. SLBEPBR.

DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1902. BENEWBD MAB.. 4. 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED PEB. 28, 1905.

C. W. SLEEPER. DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 11. 1902. RENBWBD MAR. 4. 1904.

5 SHEETS--SHEBT 3.

INVENTUR @h/Liu W' mam. @ITM-:5555

M,... f. MLM...

PATBNTED PEB. 28, 1905.

G. W. SLEEPER.

DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULI 11. 1902. IIENEWBD MAB. 4, 1904.

5 ASHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIST Il No. iB-LOM. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. C. W. SLEEPER.

`DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE.

AXPLIOATEOE FILED JULY 11, 1902. RBNEWED MAR. 4, N04.

5 SHEETS--SHEET 5.

MTNEEVEEE. @QM MMM ,Mmmw.

irla *ramas Patented February 28, 19015.

l FF EE..

CHARLES it'. SLEEPER, OF LANCASTER, NElV lll-ilVlPSlllRIC, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .l() AMERICAN KEY CAN (,lOh/llANY, F tllllCAtiiO,lLLlN0lS, A CURPORATION UF NFrv JERSEY. v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,012, dated February28, 1905.

Application led July ll, 1902. Renewed March 4, 1904. Serial No.196,490;

Be it known that l., Cuantas W'. SLnnrnn, a subject of His Majesty theKing of Great Britain, and a resident of Lancaster, in the county of(loos and State of ew ll'an'ipshire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Double-Seaming Machines, of which the followingis a specification. A

My invention relates to improvemel'lts in machines for (,louble-seamingthe covers upon that class of tin cans in which the end of the can-bodyhas an outwardly-projecting flange at right angles to the body and thecan-cover is made with a central depression fitting into the can-bodyand a downwardly-projecting [lange litting loosely over the `l'lalige ofthe canbody.

The process of double-seaming consists in tucking thedownwaidly-projecting edge of the can-cover under theflange of thecanbody, thus locking them together, then bending the flange of thecan-body, together with the inter locking edge of the cover, downwardand inward against the side of the can-body, and pressing theinterlocking edges lirmly togcther.

rl"he machine is shown and described as adapted to the double-seaming ofthe covers upon the `sae-called square cans. lt will be understood,however, that the machine is adaptable to round, oval, and other formsof cans by changing the outline of the dies and the guiding-points ofthe feed-chain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myinvention. Fig. Q is an end elevation with chain removed. Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken on a line X. X, Fig. l. Figs. 4, 5, (i, 7 aredetails showing' the can-liolder and its operating parts in section.Fig. 8 Ais a front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of aportion of chuck C and the operating parts connected therewith, taken onthe line .c :Il of Fig. 8L. Fig. 8 is a plan View of chuck C. Fig. 8" isa section of the body of the chuck C, taken on the line 'z/ 1/ of Fig.Sl. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the jaws c. Fig. 9 is a top view ofquadruple cam. Fig. l() is a detail showing the swivelnut F ig. ll is atop view of machine with yokes cut away to show the chucks. Fig. l?. Gis a section of can and cover before the operation of double-seaming.Figs. 13, llt, l5, 1G, and 17 are details showing the dies, can, andcover in different stages of the operation of double-seaniing. Fig. 18is a top view of a 55 portion of the con Voyer-chain and can-holder.Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of can-liolder,taken on liuc l/ y, Fig.20. Fig. 2() is a central longitudinal section of can-holder anddrawingdie. Fig. 2l is a detail of pawl-carrying arm. 60 Fig. 2.2 is asectional detail of feed-crank and gears. Fig. 23 is a plan view of theguideplate 221.

lteferring to Figs. l, 2, 3, and ll, A Al are the uprights for the frameof the machine, provided with suitable journal-boxes for the severalshafts. AZ is a table secu red to the uprights A A. To the uprights A Aand table A2 are secured by suitable bolts and screws the variousworking parts of the machine.

The hand-lever A operates a friction-clutch which receives the powerfrom the driving pulley A'l and transmits it to the shaft A, whichcarries a bevcl-pinion A, engaging a bevel-gear A7 upon a shaft AS. lheshaft AS 75 carries a spur-pinion A, which engages a gear Aw upon thecrankshaft A, which carries two cranks A2 A1. The pinion A also engagesa gear A upon a shoulder-stud AH.

A spur-pinion A is made fast to the gear AI3 8O and engages a gear A1upon a shaft AU.

The gear A1 has a cam-groove cut inonc side, 'which engages a pin withroller (not shown) upon the side of the arm A1X and gives an oscillatingmotion to the rock-shaft A, to Lo 5 which the arm A is secured.

Upon the end of the shaft .e u, Figs. l and 22, is a miter-gcar (t,engaging asimilar gear a upon a crank-shaft n, which is journaled in asuitable hanger ft2. A connecting-rod a connects the crank on said shafte' with an oscillating arm a", carrying a pawl af. (See Figs. l and 2l.)

rlhc pawl nir engages suitable slots nl. in the rim of an index -wheela?, Figs. l and ill, mounted upon a shaft n, to which are secured twosprocket-wheels a9. A link am connects the rod a3 with a bell-crank arma, which moves a latch (im.

The latch am enters the slots a. and remains in each slot during thehalf-revolution of the crank d, entering the slot when the crank is atone extremity of its throw and leaving the slot when the crank is at theopposite extremity of its throw. the slot a, it pushes the pawl a5toward the shaft as, and as the arm moves the pawl slides along theinner face of the rim of the index-wheel c7 until it reaches the nextslot a and is forced into the same by the spring al" at the instant thatthe latch tu is withdrawn and the pawl commences its return motion,

carrying the index-wheel with it. As the parts operate continuously, theindex-wheel is moved a distance equal to the space between the slots aduring the one-half revolution of the crank a and held stationary duringan equal period of time.

The sprocket-wheels a are of suitable shape to engage the pins al* ofthe feed-chain, and each motion of the index-wheel is equal to one linkof the chain.

The feed-chain B is best shown in Fig. 18 and is composed of pins a andlinks als and is designed to hold the can C loosely between the collarsal on the pins and the projections (tu on the inside of the links.

The chain passes over idle wheels als upon a shaft al", along' the topof the table A, over the sprocket-wheels ai', and returns beneaththeframeofthemachine. Thecan-holdersM, of which there are two, Figs. 4,5, 6, 7, 11, 18, 19, 20, are each provided with a spindle 7/, whichslides vertically in a flanged sleeve b2, bolted to the under side ofthe table A2, which is cut away at this point to allow the canholder l)to sink down against the sleeve L2. Each of the sleeves L2 is so locatedthat the can-holder b shall be central between the links and pins of asection of the conveyer-chain, as at Fig. 18, when the chain is at rest.The holders b areraised by the cam A1, mounted upon the shaft A17,acting, by means of the arm A18 upon the rock-shaft A1, to which arc-secured the arms 3 53, each connected by a link b4 to a rectangularlever l", one end of which passes through a slot in the sleeve lf2 andis pivoted in the spindle W, the other end sliding in a slot in therevoluble head of an adjustable swivel-nut L, Fig. 10, the stationaryportion of which is secured to the frame of the machine by a screw-boltpassing' through a T-slot If in the frame.

Fig. 1 shows the position of the parts when the can-holder L is raised,and Fig. 6 shows the same with the can-holder at its lowest position, atwhich point the sides of the lever I L5 are parallel with the T-slot 57,and the nut 7) may be loosened and moved along the T- slot withoutchanging the position of the canholder. By moving the nut 7)", however,the

Then the latch am entersV working length of the lever if is changed andthe upward movement of the can-holder is adjusted.

Each can-holder is provided with upwardly-projecting spurs L, havingtheir inner sides beveled to guide and retain the can C, as shown inFig. 13. Each can-holder is also provided with two U-shaped steel guides12S, Figs. 18, 19, 20, which rest in suitable grooves in the top ofthecan-holder when the same is raised. ln the descending movement of thecan-holder when the tops of the guides are on a level with the top ofthe table A2 the legs of the guides rest upon the top of the sleeve b2,and the further descent of the guides is thus prevented. The can-holderhowever, continues to descend until the spurs clear the can, which isthus left supported on the guides bs on a level with the top of thetable A2, the guides forming a bridge to support the can while movingacross the recess in the table. The chucks C C2, Fig. 11, are eachprovided with four sliding' jaws c, held down by guides c and engaged bylevers c2, pivoted in the body of the chuck and forked at their lowerends to receive rollers c3, which rest against the quadruple cam 0*,Figs. 3, 8, 9, and are held in place by the guides ci. rlhese guidesconsist of strips of metal attached to the cam c'1 at a distancetherefrom sufficient to admit the rollers@i3 and curved to correspondwith the faces of the cam opposite which they are placed, thus formingchannels between the guides and the faces of the cam to hold and directthe rollers c3 as they travel over the faces of the cam. The camcfslides upon the sleeve 7; and is connected to the crank a by aconnecting-rod dl.

A revolution of the crank am gives reciprocating motion to the cam 0*,which, acting through the levers c2, causes the four jaws c toalternately approach and recede from each other.

Upon each of the four jaws c of the chuck C is secured a die c7, theinner edge of which projects upward, forming an angular ridge, one ofwhose faces is perpendicular and the other at an angle of aboutforty-five degrees therewith, as shown in Fig. 13, and the four dieswhen closed (moved toward the center of chuck) surround and [it closelyto the outside of the can. Upon the four jaws o of the chuck C2 aresecured four dies es, similar to c7, but having their inner faces formedas in Fig. 16.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, (Z is a yoke secured to thechuck (y and carrying a die-holder d', consisting of a cylindrical shaftarranged to move vertically through said yoke CZ and held up by means ofa coiled spring d2, resting upon a cross-yoke 23, attached to the yoked,and bearing against a nut cl2* upon the upper end of a rod projectingfrom the top of the die-holder ZC To the lower end of the die-holder dis attached the die-block (Z13, as hereinafter described. In the side ofthe IIO 'Ire/1,012

die-holder ('Z is a rectangular notch d, engaged by a lever d", pivotedupon a pin (Z5 in the yoke d.

An adjusting-screw o through the end of the lever il* rests upon the topot' a rod (Z7, supported by the lever d, which in turn rests upon anadjusting-screw d ina yoke l 0, and is pivoted at one end upon astnd d,projecting from the frame A.

The inner end oil the lever ZS is at the proper time engag'ed and raisedby a projection l 2 upon the side of the cam c", causing' the die-holderd to descend, the amount oi the motion being regulated by the screw dand the position of the die-holder being adjusted bythe screw (Z.

ln order to prevent any turning of the dieholder LZ during its descentand to preserve the correct alineinent ol' the dies, a guideplate di isattached to the die-holder the outer end oi' which is 'forked andeiinbraces a guide di, attached to the yoke fl.

To the bottom ot the die-holder d and in alinement with the dies c7 issecured a dieblock (Z13, Fig. 20, which carries a drawing'- ring il anda yielding die d, 'which lits into the depression in the can-cover andis held to the die-block (Z13 by screws d1 and rests against springs (l17.

Upon the chuck Ci is secured a yoke d'8, carrying a die-holder d l",similar to (l and adjustably secured in the yoke.

To the bottom of the die-holder dl secured a die-block similar to (Zw,carrying a rigid die d20, Fig. 16, in alinemcnt with the dies c" andaccurately litted to the depression in the can-cover.

ln operation the can, with its cover loosely put on, is placed within alink ol the feedchain, with the bottom o1'I the can resting upon thetable. A lew motions of the chain place the can over the can-holderunderneath the chuck (Y, Where it rests upon the guides 68. NVhile thechain is at rest, the canholder /1 rises until it presses the canagainst the thawing-ring d and die d, as shown in Fig. .13, when thedies c7 close upon the can and bend the downward-projecting edge of thecover under the outwardly-prejecting fiange ol the can-body. 7 hen thedies c7 reach the position shown in Fig. 14, the drawing-ring d beginsto descend, drawing the interlocking edges of the cover and flange ol'lthe can over the point of the dies c7, as shown in Fig. 15. The dies anddrawing-ring then simultaneously withdraw. As the die c7 withdraws itsoblique tace forces the seam upward, keeping it in contact with thedrawing-ring, and

thereby lifts the can slightly from the canholder until the die is clearof the seam, when thecan drops back into its place on the canholder. Thecan-holder then descends with the can and leaves it resting upon theguides to be carried forward by :further motions of the cham untll 1t isdlrectly over the dieholder beneath the chucks C, when the can is againraised until the cover presses against the die di, the dies cs closeupon the depressed edge of the (aim-cover, as in Fig. 16, and prefs theinterlocking edges firmly together, as in Fig. 1T. 'lhe dies ex thenwithdraw, and the can again descends into the chain and is carried alongto lall from the chain into a suitable receptacle.

NY hat l' claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isE

1. ln a machine ot the class described, the combination el the'following mechanisms, to wit: mechanism for engaging and holding thecan and cover, recifprocatil'ig mechanism for engaging and folding theflange ot' the cancover, mechanism Vl'or engaging and folding thecan-body and can-cover flanges,mechailism 'for engaging' and completing'the l'olding ot' the can-body and cover-flanges, and mechanismconnecting the above-named mechanisms to cause them to operatesuccessively on the can and cover.

2. ln a machine 01" the class described, the combination of thefollowing mechanisms, to wit: mechanism `for emgaging and holding' thecan and cover, horizontally reciliirocating mechanism for engaging' andYfolding the cover-Hange, vertical ly-reci procating mechanism forengaging and folding the can-body and can-cover lianges,horizontally-reciproeating' mechanism for engaging and completing thefolding of the two flanges, and mechanism connecting the above-namedmechanisms to cause them to operate successively on the can and cover.

ln a machine of the class described, the combination o1 the followingmechanisms, to wit: mechanism for engaging and holding' the can andcover, mechanism for engaging' and folding the cover-'flangia mechanisnlfor engaging and folding the can-body ilangc and cover-flange, mechanismfor moving the can liromthe said last-named mechanisms, mechanism `forengaging and completing the 'lold of the two ianges, and mechanismconnectingl the above-named mechanisms to cause them to operatesuccessively on the can and cover.

1. 1n a machine of the class describial, the combination with mechanismVfor engaging' and holding the can and cover, o1horizontally-reciprocating dies adapted to engage and `lold thedepending cover-flange, mechanism 'lor moving said dies, verticallyreciprocating mechanism adapted to engage and partially Vlold theintel-locked can-body and coverflanges, mechanism `lor moving thelast-named mechanism vertically, and mechanism connecting' theabove-named mechanisms to cause them to operate successively on the canand cover.

In a machine olt the class described, the combination with a carriermechanism adapted to engage and carry the can and cover, mechanism forengaging and holding the can ALoo IZO

and cover, horizontally-sliding' reciprocating dies for engagingandfolding the vertical depending cover-fiange, andvertically-reciprocating' mechanism for engaging and partially folding'the interlocked can-body and coverflanges.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anintermittently-moving carrier adapted to engag'e and move the can andcover, mechanism for engaging and hold.- ing the can-Cover during acessation of Inovement of the carrier, horizontally-reciprocating'mechanism for engag'ing' and folding the cover-ilange,vertically-reciprocating mechanism for engag'ing and partially foldingthe interlocked can-body and cover-iianges, mechanism for moving the canfrom said last-named mechanisms, mechanism for engaging' and holding thecan and cover after their movement from the former folding mechanism,and mechanism for completing' the folding of the interlocked can-bodyand cover-flanges.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anintermittently-moving carrier adapted to engage and move the can andcover, mechanism for engaging' and holding the can-cover during acessation of movement of the carrier, horizontally-reciprocatingmechanism for eng'aging and folding thecover-iiange,vertically-reciprocating mechanism for engaging andpartially folding the interlocked can-body and cover-flanges, mechanismfor moving the can from said lastnamed mechanisms, mechanism forengaging and holding the can and cover after their movement from theformer folding' mechanism, and horizontally-reciprocating mechanism forengaging and completing the folding of the interlocked flanges.

8. In a machine of the class specified the cancarrying chain Bsprocket-wheels a and slotted index-wheel a7 with means for giving' tosaid index-wheel intermittent rotary motion consisting' of theoscillating arm CZ* spring-pawl ai connecting-rod (Z3 and crank-shaft awith means for giving' said crank-shaft oscillating' motion, incombination with the link im pivoted to the connecting-rod 13,bell-crank arm a and latch L12 substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

9. In a machine of the class speciiied the canholders Z) each providedwith beveled spurs Z, g'uides ZS, spindle Z/ and means for raising andlowering said can-holders substantialljT as and for the purposedescribed.

10. In a machine of the class speciiied the can-holders b Z with meansfor raising and lowering the same consisting of levers Z5 pivoted to thespindles of said can-holders and sliding in nuts Z, arms b3 and links Z*connecting said arms Z3 with the levers Zf, rock-shaft A, cam-arm A18and cam Aw for giving reciprocating motion to said levers b5, with meansfor operating said cam substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class specified the can-holders!) Z providedwith spindles Z having levers Z2 pivoted thereto means for g'iving saidlevers vertical reciprocating motion, and means for regulating theeXtentof the upward movement of said levers 7j consisting' of theadjustable swivel-nuts Z sliding' in T-slots Z7 in the frame of themachine substantially as described.

12. In a machine of the class specified the sliding jaws c carrying diesc7 and working in chuck C with means for forcing said jaws toward andfrom a common central point, in combination with die-block (Z13,yielding die CZ15 and drawing-ring CZ operating in conjunction with saiddies c7 in the formation of the seam, means for supporting the canduring the operation of double seaming and means for moving saiddie-block t l vertically to and from said can-supporting mechanismsubstantially as described.

13. In a machine of the class specified, a yielding die (Z15 adapted tofit into the cover of a can, and a drawing-ring' Z 14surrounding saidielding die and having' its lower inner edge beveled at an angle ofabout forty-live degrees both mounted upon the die-block (Z13, incombination with dies c7, terminating in an upwardly-projectingtriangular ridge whose inner face is parallel with the beveled portionof the drawing-ring' (ZH, means for supporting the can, means forgiving' said die-block Z13 vertical motion to and from the can and meansfor giving said dies c horizontal motion to and from the can,substantially as described.

14. In a machine of the class specified jaws c sliding in the convergingchannels of a chuck C and carrying dies c7 With means for giving saidjaws reciprocating horizontal motion, consisting of the levers c2engaging said jaws and pivoted in the body of the chuck and havingrollers at their lower ends resting against the cam c4 inlcombinationwith the quadruple cam c* sliding upon the sleeve Z2 guides c5, andmeans for giving' to said cam c* vertical reciprocating motionsubstantially as described.

15. In a machine of the class specified the die-holder (Z/ with meansfor raising and lowering the same, consisting of spring (Z2, lever Ziengaging a notch in the die-holder (Z', adjusting-screw ZZ, lifting-rod(Z7, lever (Z8, adjusting-screw d", cam 0*, having a projection (Z12engaging' said lever Z8 and means for giving said cam c4vertically-reciprocating motion, substantially as described.

16. In a machine of the class specified the die-holder CZ with means fordepressing the same, consisting of the lever Zi engaging' a notch insaid die-holder and means for operating said lever consisting of theverticallyreciprocating cam c4 having a projection cZlg, lever (ZSengaged by the projection in said cam c", and lifting-rod Z7 restingupon said lever (ZX, in combination with means for regulating' IIl theposition oi the die-holder and the extent ot' vertical motion of thesame, consisting otl an adjusting-screw el in the end oi' the lever Z1resting upon the top of the lifting-rod d?, and an adj usting-screw d i,supporting' the 'free end of the lever als, substantially as described.

17. ln a machine oi the class specified the dies c7 with means forgivingthe same horizon- -tal motion toward the seam of the can, actingI c7acting' in conjunction with yielding die dm" and drawing-ringI (l H inturning the flange ot' the can-cover under and around the iiange of thecan-body and bending and crushing the interlocking` edges oi" saidflanges together, with means for operatingsaid dies and drawing-ringsimultaneously, consisting' of the vertically-reciprocating cam e*acting' upon levers c2 pivoted to the jaws c carrying the dies c7, iucombination with lever ci operated by the projection im upon said cam c"and means For communicating the motion of said lever di to the die-blockd', substantially as described.

19. .ln a machine ot' the class specified means for turning the flangeoil the can-cover under and around the llange olE the can-bodyY andcrushing the interlockingl edges together at an angle ot' aboutforty-live degrees with the side et' the can consistii'ig ot' the diese7 yielding die (l 5 and drawing-ring d with means `for operating saiddies and drawing-ring, in combination with means ilior crushing the seamso formed llat against the bodyT of the camcensisting olI dies es anddi" and means For operating' said dies substantiz'illy as described.

2l). `l n a machine oli' the class speciiied, means Vfor turning theflange of the can-cover under and around the flange of the can-body andcrushing the interlocking edges together at an angle ot about forty-livedegrees with the side of the can consisting of the dies e7, yielding died and drawing-ring l H, with means Yfor operating said dies anddrawing-ring, in combination with means Afor crushing` the seam so`formed flat against the body ol the can.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceolI two witnesscs.

CHARLES \V. VSL'EEPERu litnessesz MARION A. Communes, NnLLm L.(.uroivnmnn.

